But—
We’ll talk about this later, aye? For now, let’s just get Dr. Davies settled and double-check what Dr. Keith needs whilst the human female is here.
His beast huffed but fell silent.
The little whitewashed cottage belonging to his parents came into view. It wasn’t grand, but the two-story building had been their new start after leaving Lochguard.
Cam had been a teenager at the time and hadn’t reacted well to leaving his home and friends behind. Thankfully, his parents had understood him, encouraged him to follow his dream of becoming a Protector, and he’d tamed eventually.
While he didn’t live with them any longer—he had a small, two-bedroom cottage of his own closer to the clan’s entrance—it would always be home to him.
The front door opened just as his mother and Dr. Davies reached it, and his father introduced himself and motioned them inside. Even though it wasn’t overly cold today, the wind off the water always made Seahaven cool.
He deposited the suitcase just inside the door and said, “I need to go back to the Protector building.”
His father arched an eyebrow. “Rubbish. Dean told me you could stay for supper. Your shift is nearly over, anyway.”
As he tried to think of an excuse—he was head Protector, after all, and should be able to say no—his younger brother joined them. Tor was nearly as tall as Cam now, and he had the same red hair and blue eyes as him. He said, “Hey, Cam,” before signing in British Sign Language, “Stay for dinner. I haven’t seen you in nearly a week.”
He signed back, “I’ve been busy.”
Tor rolled his eyes before turning toward Dr. Davies. He put out a hand and said, “My name is Tor. Nice to meet you.”
Since Tor’s hearing had been better as a young child, his speech was nearly indistinguishable from anyone else’s, apart from a few words here and there.
Dr. Davies shook her hand. “Hello, Tor. My name is Emily Davies, but call me Emily.”
While talking, she’d faced Tor and spoken clearly, as if knowing Tor often relied on lip-reading.
His dragon spoke up.Yet another reason to like her. She doesn’t treat Tor as if he’s daft.
Another reason? What’s the first?
She’s beautiful. You noticed earlier as well.
He might’ve noticed how her breasts had lifted when she’d stretched earlier, and he’d imagined her stretching under him. Possibly naked.That happens with any bonnie lass.
Ah, so you admit she’s bonnie.
Ignoring his dragon, he turned to his father and whispered, “I’m not going to get out of this, am I?”
His dad grinned and slapped him on the shoulder. “No, son. When your mother sets her mind on something, a mountain wouldn’t be able to stop her.”
He resisted a sigh. He loved his parents, of course he did. But his mum often forgot that he was a grown male in his thirties and not a wee lad any longer.
His beast spoke again.Tor’s right—we haven’t been around as much. Stop fussing and just enjoy the meal. Mum will do most of the talking anyway, so all you have to do is eat.
He knew that wasn’t going to be the case, but was too tired to argue.
Besides, he was starving since he’d forgotten to eat lunch again.
So as his mum herded them all into the wee dining room, he merely followed and deliberately looked anywhere but at the backside of the human female in front of him.
Emily had beento Clan Lochguard several times over the years, and compared to Stonefire, they’d always seemed overly friendly and maybe a tad bit nosey. So as she was greeted and herded into a dining room with a large, oval table and multiple chairs, she started to see the same traits in these people as well.
Oh, apart from Cam Alexander, who seemed to always look as if he’d swallowed a bee.
But his parents and younger brother were already treating her more like family than a stranger, and she struggled to keep a smile on her face. Because when she’d been little, her family had been more like this one.
